Nesting

What is Nesting?

Nesting is the term used to refer to an expectant mother’s instinct which gives her a surge of energy which prompts her to clean and do various chores around her home. Nesting usually arises as the mother nears her due date.

Not all women will nest. The nesting process has no relation on how good a mother the woman will be.

What Does Nesting Feel Like?

Some women are nesting and are mentally unaware of it. Their nesting instincts may be subtle, yet they are going around their living quarters doing tasks in preparation for their child’s birth. When nesting is subtle, it is thought to be because the woman may be energetic or active naturally, regardless of her pregnancy.

Other women report a surge of energy that is impossible to still. These women know they are nesting and they are unable to quell the surge of energy.

Thoughts about nesting will make some women nervous about their pending labor and delivery.

What Do Some Women Do When They Are Nesting?

Each woman will nest in a way that is unique to them. Below is a list of possible things a nesting mother do.

* Clean out the cabinets
* Mop the floor
* Rearrange furniture
* Clean out closets
* Clean a child’s nursery meticulously
* Steam clean upholstery and carpets
* Clean the bathroom
* Stock the kitchen with food
* Cook

While these may seem like normal household chores, when a woman is nesting, she will probably carry out the tasks more meticulously and persistently than usual.

Should a Woman Be Cautioned Against Nesting?

Nesting is normal and it is not hard on a woman’s health unless she exhausts herself.

Pregnancy normally will hamper a woman from doing things which are truly too strenuous. However, if a woman is nesting and trying to push a piano across a room, it is probably best if she finds something else to do.

Does Nesting Mean that Labor Is Near?

It is virtually impossible to predict exactly when labor will begin. However, nesting is a good sign that it is soon. Nesting may occur a couple of weeks, or even a day, prior to the onset of labor.

Postpartum

Now that baby’s born, it’s time to focus on postpartum care – for you and your newborn! That means caring for yourself inside and out, including everything from getting back into shape, to confronting post-partum depression.

As a new mom, breastfeeding can be a unique experience that allows you to bond with your baby. However, it’s natural to have concerns about breastfeeding your baby, even if you’ve breastfed before. Find out about common breastfeeding complications, such as engorgement, as well as comfortable breastfeeding positions; here you’ll also find advice on breastfeeding twins, breastfeeding in public and how to pump and store your breast milk.

Postpartum depression is a common condition that affects the physical and mental well-being of new moms. Learn about common signs of postpartum depression as well as different degrees of postpartum depression, including postpartum psychosis. Here you’ll also find treatment options that can help you overcome postpartum depression.

After the birth of your baby, you’ll likely notice that your body isn’t the same as it was before pregnancy. Discover tips on healthy eating and fitness that can help you improve the look of your body after pregnancy, as well as improve your overall postpartum health. Here you’ll also find advice on dressing the postpartum body, as well as how to minimize the appearance of stretch marks and varicose veins in order to create a more beautiful you.

How Pregnancy Happens Video

So, you think you know everything there is to know about how pregnancy happens? You might be surprised at what you can learn if you listen to what your genitals have to say in this PSA created by FlickerLab for Planned Parenthood.

Written, Directed and Edited by : Harold Moss
Executive Producer : Tammy Walters
Producer : Franklin Zitter
Media Manager : Scott Brewster
Animation : Joseph Costantini, Thomas Costantini (Two Animators)
Storyboards : David Zung
Character Design : Zartosht Soltani, David Zung
Sound Design : Tom Lino
Voices : Lloyd Floyd, Laura Dillman

Weaning Your Baby

Recently, someone I worked with saying that his wife was getting ready to wean their baby, who was just over one. He mentioned his wife was going to be sad. I had to ask the question, then why wean? He told me that she was ready and had done an amazing job. It just reminded me that there is so much that goes into breastfeeding other than science and food.

The decision to wean your baby from the breast can be simple or complex, how and when to wean is different for every family. Here are some suggestions to help you make weaning a smooth process. What are some good weaning tips that worked for you?

Are you having twins?

People are very fascinated with twins and other multiples. It seems mysterious how one pregnancy can result in more than one baby.

Multiple pregnancies are on the rise in recent years with more and more twins and other types of multiples being born. The majority of the reason for this rise is the increased use of fertility drugs.

How Twins Are Made

There are a couple of ways that multiples are conceived:

• Multiple eggs are released or there is more than one ovulation. Both (or more) eggs are fertilized and you have fraternal twins. This can happen with or without fertility drugs.

• One egg is release but splits in two. Identical twins are made. This can happen with or without fertility drugs.

• In cases of IVF, there are usually 3 or more fertilized eggs put back into the uterus.
  
  
  The rationale is that not all of these will implant, though sometimes they do.

Once conceived you have a lot of possibilities on placentas, implantation locations, number of amniotic sacs. For example, you can have two babies, two placentas, and two sacs. You can have two babies one placenta, two sacs. It will be important to know exactly what you are dealing with, particularly when it comes to amniotic sacs.

How Multiples Are Discovered

Many people learn about their multiples at an early ultrasound. Although some critics say that before twelve weeks gestation there is still a high risk of Disappearing Twin Syndrome, where one baby stops growing and is either absorbed back into the mother's body or is still born when the other twin is born.

Some people find a rapid rate of grow in their uterus which leads some to suspect twins. I will say, for all of you second timers out there, that your bellies will grow faster than with your first pregnancy, so don't automatically assume twins.

Sometimes multiple heart beats are heard, leading your practitioner to believe that there is more than one bundle of joy in your uterus.

Some women find out when they have abnormally high levels on the AFP test that multiples are on the way, since multiple babies would increase the levels of these hormones. It's also sometimes possible to detect multiples with serial hCG levels in early pregnancy. The more babies the faster the rate of rise in the hCG which should nearly double every 48 hours with a singleton.

About 3% of all twin pregnancies are undetected until birth. It is possible to have an ultrasound and not see the other baby, though rare.

Multiple Pregnancy

Being pregnant with multiples is not necessarily a high risk situation, except when dealing with higher order multiples or specific problems. Someone on the bulletin board phrased it as being "high need." I really think that this is a positive shift away from the technical side. Find a practitioner who is experienced with multiples births, but one who will not panic at every corner.

In general you need to increase the amount of protein that you eat. Protein is the building block of every cell in your body and your babies' bodies. It will help you build a good placenta and a strong amniotic sac. A healthful diet will also help fight against infection.

You will probably see your practitioner more frequently towards the end of pregnancy. You may have more testing than most women during pregnancy, but not always. Some of these might include: non-stress testing, more ultrasounds, etc.

Complications

There can be a higher risk for complications. You will be monitored for the normal complications of pregnancy like high blood pressure, and fetal growth. However, twins and other multiples can have higher incidences of things such as Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), Twin to Twin Transfusion (TTTS), and others. Remember to keep your appointments, watch your diet and do your Fetal Kick Counts.

Multiple Birth

In years past cesarean became popular for multiple births. Now that rate is about 50% for twins, and declining. We've found that vaginal birth is usually very safe for multiples, who frequently need the stimulation and rise in hormones levels associated with labor.

Whether or not you will have a vaginal birth will depend on many factors, including the position of the babies, and how the babies tolerate labor.

If your babies are in a position where neither can move, they are said to be locked. These babies will have to be born via cesarean.

Breech babies really depend on the size of the baby and the skill of the practitioner. Usually if baby A (The first baby in the pelvis.) is head down a vaginal birth will be attempted. If Baby B is breech or transverse an internal or external version may be attempted to help facilitate the birth, or that baby may be allowed to be born breech.

Monoamniotic twins will also be born via cesarean, due to the added risk of cord entanglement.

No matter how your twins were conceived, or how they were born, babies are delightful. Parenting multiples has its special challenges, but it also yields special rewards.

Your Pregnant Body

From the first sign of pregnancy to the last contraction, your pregnant body is changing and growing a baby. Do you just glow like all the books say? What about your belly? Is it big enough, small enough, round enough? How is your baby growing? Follow the pregnancy week by week pregnancy calendar to find out what is going on with your body and baby!

Prenatal Care

As soon as you find out that you are pregnant, it is vital that you call your health care practitioner to set up an appointment. Proper prenatal care will ensure that you optimize your chances of having a healthy baby. It is also very important to start taking a prenatal vitamin right away. Be sure to choose one made without artificial dyes and with the recommended amount of folic acid.

It’s very important to find the best care during your pregnancy. You need to find someone whom you trust; someone who will be there for you when you are in need. Choosing Your Practitioner will provide you with some valuable information about what to consider when you are trying to find someone for your prenatal care.

Nowadays, people have a choice between obstetricians, family practitioners and midwives as their health care providers when they are pregnant. We have a directory that will help you find a caregiver. Many women are rediscovering the wonderful experience of using a doula at their birth. To help you with your choice of caregiver, refer to the list in Questions to Ask your Prenatal Care Provider. Even if you are set on one type of care, it is important to read about all your options so you can be sure that you choose the best type of care for you.

If you are anxious about that first medical appointment, read Your First Medical Exam to get a better understanding of how it will be different from other medical exams. A standard feature of prenatal care from the eigth week of pregnancy on is checking the baby's heart beat. If you're particularly nervous about your pregancy, though, you may want to consider having a fetal heart monitor at home.

And if you are already looking forward to that wonderful day of birth, read Birthing Alternatives. Here you will learn about different ways of giving birth that can help you get the most out of the experience.

We hope this information will help you to decide what works best. A positive pregnancy experience and a wonderful childbirth often result from a respectful and trusting partnership with your practitioner.